The Howard Movement: Collective Action Framing Amongst Howard University Student Protestors

• In Event: 50460 - Section on Comparative-Historical Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 5: Contentious Politics

Abstract

Using the comparative historical approach and primary source analysis of The Hilltop Student Newspaper, I argue that through the process of collective action framing, student protestors link past and present protest movements. Through informing The Hilltop Student Newspaper staff writers and public media, Howard University’s 2021 #BlackburnTakeover Protest and September 4th, 2009 protestors claimed the administration was responsible, held rallies, and drew on past protests. Furthermore, they create slogans, unify with the faculty and staff as well and encounter internal and external disputes to frame the events in a manner that benefits their campus protests' objectives. This study uses newspaper data to examine the outcomes of these processes as documented by The Hilltop Student Newspaper. It expands the literature on social movement theory and framing by exploring the use of collective action frames on a college campus between two different protest movements.

Author

• Shane Asante Appiah, Northwestern University